Salvation Army in crisis, looks for donations

The Salvation Army’s Havre Service Center is in dire need of money because it is swamped with people needing help.

That’s the word from Trina Crawford, director of the Havre Service Center.

She said there has been a sharp increase in the number of people who are homeless, are on the verge of being evicted or are in need of food.

The agency’s budget for the month has been depleted, she said, and unless money is forthcoming soon, they may have to turn people away.

She said many of the people in need fall into the same category. They are people who may have made mistakes in their lives, she said, but they are seeking to get back on the right track.

It can be difficult for people to straighten their lives out, she said, when they don’t have a home or food.

“There are jobs out there, but employers are picky,” she said.

Given the chance, employers would probably choose someone who has not had a troubled past, she said.

“Salvation Army’s philosophy is to give people a hand up, not a handout,” she said, adding that sometimes, people need money to tide them over until they can put their lives in order.

If people are able to help the Salvation Army through its tough time, they can drop the money off at the Sally Ann Thrift Store or the Havre Service Center, mail it to Salvation Army, Post Offioce Box 418, Havre MT 59501 or pay through the website http://www.SalvationarmyUSA.org.

They need to be sure to include the zip code 59501 on the donation.

“Or, if people feel they can’t afford it, we hope they will lift us up in prayer,” she said.